DELHI HC RESERVES ORDER ON ABHISHEK BANERJEE’S WIFE PLEA AGAINST ED SUMMONS

The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its order on the petition moved by TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee’s wife, Rujira Banerjee in a money-laundering case against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons issued against her in an alleged coal scam in West Bengal.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal concluded his argument saying there was no wilful disobedience by the petitioner who had challenged the Enforcement Directorate (ED) complaint and the trial court’s order taking cognizance of the complaint and subsequent issuance of a summons for physical appearance. The High Court last week had reserved an order on the petition moved by Abhishek Banerjee and his wife against the summons issued to them to appear in the national capital in a money-laundering investigation linked to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal.

Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar on Friday after hearing the submissions by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal counsel for the petitioner and Advocate Amit Mahajan, Standing Counsel appearing for ED. Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal argued that there was no wilful disobedience of the notices issued to Rujira Banerjee issued by ED. “She was intended to join the investigation at Kolkata. She wrote a letter to the investigation agency every time she received a summon to physically appear in Delhi.” Sibal submitted that the petitioner was issued summons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). “She was always intended to join the investigation. She is a mother of two small children and in this going on Covid pandemic it would be difficult for her to appear in Delhi,” he added. He further submitted that it would be convenient for the petitioner to appear in Kolkata.